Filing appliance.



H. J. HlCK. HUNG APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION F ILED JUNEJ, 19.14-

Patented July 17, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H J. HICK. FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I. 1914.

Patented Ju1y17, 1917.

LQ3%UU 5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

H. J. HICK.

FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1.41914;

Patented. July 17, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- wi tmaoaw H; J. HICK.

FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION, FILED JUNE 1, 19:4.

Patented July 17, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

/ wuemtoa H; J. HICK.

FILING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. I914. II I Patented July 17, 191?.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' M v'mesaea: I wzfwelztor HARRY J. HICK, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY llrIEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE MCCASKEY REGISTER COMPANY, (INCORPORATED IN 1914,) OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FILING APPLIANCE.

Application filed June 1, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. Hion, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Filing Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

' The invention relates to an appliance for filing sales bills and other similar papers, including a series of hinged holders, and a case in which the holders are operatively.

mounted, and in which they can be completely inclosed for protection against fire and like damage.

The invention contemplates the use of a rectangular case composed of a lower or base section and an upper or cover section; with guiding hinge connections between the sections, so that the upper section can be closed downward upon the base section to completely incase the bill holders mounted therein, or can be swungupward with its rear end resting upon the rear portion of the base section to form a back or support for the bill holders in operative position.

One object of the invention is to provide a guiding hinge connection between the cover and base sections of the case so that when the cover section is swung upward upon the base section, the rear end thereof will be automatically shifted forward to bring it squarely upon the rear end portion of the base section with the top of the cover section in alinement with the rear end of the base section; and reversely when the cover section is swung downward upon the base section, the rear end thereof will be automatically shifted rearward to bring the rear ends of the sections into alinement when the cover section is closed upon the base sec tion.

A. further object of the invention is to form the walls of the case in such a manner as to strengthen the same and also to resist the action of heat or other injurious elements, and also to shape the engaging rims of the case sections in such a manner as to forma sealed joint and to secure the walls in alinement when the cover section is closed upon the base section.

Another object of the 1nvent1on, as the same relates to the inclosing case, is to provide means for counterbalancing the cover section of the case as the same is swung upward from or downward upon the base section; such. means being adapted to sustain Specification of Letters Patent.

7 section posed bill holders forward Patented July 117, 1917. Serial No. 841,976.

the weight of the free end of the cover section to a greater degree as the same is swung downward toward and upon the base section, for the purpose of not only preventing a sudden falling of the one section upon the other, but also to assist in raising it therefrom.

The invention also contemplates the use of a series of bill holders hinged together at one end so that they can be swung from upright to reclined positions, and an index frame, hinged to the forward holder of the series in such a manner as to forma table pm which the holders can be rotated singly or collectively.

An important object of the invention pertaining to the bill holders, is to provide a joint pivotal bearing for the forward holder of the series and the index frame upon the rear edge or rim of the cover section of the case, so that when the cover is swung upward into upright position, the bill holders can. likewise be rotated upward into upright position within the upright cover of the case; and that when the bill holders are rotated downward into reclined position upon the index frame, the frame and holders collectively will be automatically carried inward and downward part way into the base section of the case when the cover section thereof is swung downward upon the base section to closethe case with the bill holders therein.

A final object of the invention pertaining to the bill holders and index frame, relates to guiding means for automatically carrying the free end of the frame and superand upward over and upon the forward wall of the base section of the case, when the cover section thereof is swung into upright position; and reversely will guide the index frame and the superposed bill holders inward and downward and sustain the same within the base section of the case when the cover section is closed thereon.

The general purpose of all the features of the improvement is to provide a self-contained filing appliance in which series of sales bills or other valuable accounts or papers can be filed and in which they can be safely preserved at all times against fire or other similar injury by a mere closing of the case, and without removing the bill holders therefrom for the purpose of storing them in an independent fire proof container.

. The objects and purposes of the invention, thus outlined, are attained by a preferred embodiment thereof, which isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the filing appliance easeshowing the cover section closed upon the base section;

Fig.2, a fragmentary corner view showing the general construction of the case; i

Fig. .3, a detached perspective view of one hinge guide bracket;

Fig. 4, a side elevation section showing the case closed, with the index frame and bill holders incased therein;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary side elevation showing the cover section swung upward part way from the base section, with the index frame .and bill holders moved forward part way out of the base section; V

Fig. 6', a side elevation section, showing the cover section swung into upright position upon the base section, and showing the index frame moved upward and forward upon the base section and the bill holders swung into upright position within the cover section;

Fig. 7, detached perspective views showing details of the pivotal connections between the cover section of the case, the bill holders'and the index frame; V

Fig. 8, a front elevation of the cover section in upright position showing a cross section of the base section and index frame, on line 99, Fig. 6; p v

Fig. 9, a fragmentary section showing the pivotal connections between the cover section of I. the case, the bill holders and the index frame; I Fig. 10, a fragmentary section showing the locking device and counterbalance arm on the rear end of the cover section of the case when in upright position;

Fig. 11, a fragmentary section showing the locking device and counterbalance arm onthe rear end of the cover section of the case when in closed position, showing its engagement with the locking pin on the rear end ofthe base section of the case; and

Fig. 12, a detached perspective view of the pivoted carrier for the counterbalancing spring and the guide track for the index frame.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. p The case is composed of the substantially similar rectangular bottom or base section 1 and the top or cover section 2, which are operatively connected together by means of the guiding hinge brackets 8, one being located on each side of the base section near the rear end thereof. The series of bill holders 1-, 1 and l are hinged together at the lower rear ends, and the forward holder 4: is pivoted to the bearing brackets 5 secured onthe rear end rim of the cover section; to which bearing brackets is also pivoted the rear end of the index frame 6.

The slide brackets 7 are pivoted, one in each side at the forward end of the base section, in the rear ends of which slide brackets are mounted the sliding rods 8, carrying the compression springs 9 on their forward ends and pivotally connected with the links 10 at their rear ends, which links are also pivotally connected with the ends of the counterbalance arms 11 secured in and proj ecting from each side at the rear end of the cover section of the case.

The guiding hinge brackets 3 are secured by the depending flanges 12 thereon to the sides of the base section at the rear end thereof, as by means of the bolts 13; the upper ends of which securing flanges are oilset to form the horizontal tracks 14, substantially in the same plane with the side rims of the base section. The ends of each track 14 are curved, first upward, and then inward a short distance above and parallel with the tracks to form the horizontal guides 15, which are thence curred upward to form the parallel vertical guides 16, located above the middle of the track 14; the upper ends of the vertical guides 16 being preferably curved and connected together.

The outer edges of the tracks and guides are preferably connected and closed by the web plate 17 and there is thus formed in each bracket, the horizontal guideways 15 at the ends of the track 14, just above the rim of the base section; and the vertical guideway 18, extending up 'ard from the middle of the horizontal track adjacent to the side of the cover section of the case.

The guiding hinge connections between the ease sections are completed by in aans of the sliding pivot posts 20, which may be in the form of rollers as shown, journaled on the lower rear side corners of the top section of the case, which rollers are adapted to travel in the horizontal guideways upon the horizontal track of the b 'acke t; and the similar sliding pivot posts or rollers 21, ournaled on the sides of the cover section, substantially equidistant from the upper and rear edges thereof, which rollers are adapted to travel in the vertical way between the vertical guides of the brackets.

By these connections it is evident that the cover section of the case may be swung upon the hinge guides thus formed, and that the rear rim of this section will be shifted directly forward and rearward by the rollers 20 upon the tracks let, and in the horizontal ways 18 at the ends thereof; which shifting movement is controlled by the vertically movable fulcrum formed by the rollers 21 operating in the way between the vertical guides 16; and the parts are so proportioned and arranged that by these means the rear end of the cover section will be alined with the rear end of base section when the cover section is swung downward thereupon, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and that the top of the cover section will, be alined with the rear end of the base section when the cover sec tion is swung upward upon the rear end thereof, as shown in Fig. 6.

The sliding rods 8 are movably mounted in the barrel bearings 22, formed on the rear ends of the slide brackets 7 and the 'compression springs 9 are coiled around the forward ends of these rods between the forward ends of the barrels 22 and the stop collars 8" on the forward free ends of the rods. The forward ends of the slide brackets are pivoted at 23, to the sides of the base section, and it is evident that when the cover section of the case is swung downward upon the base section thereof, the connecting links 10, between the rear ends of the rods and the counterbalance arms projecting from the coversection, will cause the rear end o-fthe slide brackets to swing downward upon the pivots,as shown in Fig. 5, and that a further downward swinging of the cover section will carry the counterbalance arms 11 therein rearward, so that the links 10 connecting the same with the sliding rod 8, will pull the same rearward,and willfc ompress the spring 9, thereby counterbalancing the weight of the free end of the cover section and of the holders carried by said sections to a gradually increasing extent, as the same approaches thebase section thereof.

The locking pins 24 are provided in each side of the base section at the upper rear corners thereof, and corresponding notches 25 are formed adjacent to the rim of the cover section in the counterbalance arms 11, projecting therefrom; and the parts areso arranged that when the cover section is closed upon the base section, these notches will engage the locking pins in such a man ner as to positively clamp and lock the case sections together, as shown in Fig. 11.

The locking post 26, is also provided in the front wall of the lower section of the case, adjacent to the rim thereof, and suitable locking means are provided, including the operating handle 27, and the hooked arm 28, mounted in the forward wall of the cover section; and these parts are so arranged that the hooked arm 28 will engage the locking post 26, when the case sections are closed for clamping and locking the rims thereof together.

Each wall of the case sections is preferably made of two metal sheets or plates 29, spaced apart, between which isprovided the filling 30 of heat resisting material, to form a fire proof structure; and all the edges of the case are reinforced and secured together by suitable angle plates 29, to make a strong and rigid construction for the walls,

the angle plates being welded or otherwise secured to the metal plates forming the faces of the walls.

*Therims of the case sections are preferablyfo'rmed by welding or otherwise securing bars of substantially rectangular sections between the edges of the spaced metal plates; the rim bars. 31 of theside andforward walls of the base section being provided with the tongues 32, the rim bars 31 of the side and forward walls of the cover section being provided with the corresponding grooves 32; and the bars 33 and33 of the rear rims of thebase and cover sections being provided with the reversely positioned rabbets 34 and 34. The tongues and grooves of the side and'forwardrims, and the rabbets of the rear wall rims, are arranged to intermesh with each other, to form a sealed joint between the rimswhen the cover section is seated upon the base section, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Thebillholders l, 4 and 4, are provided with hinge bars 35.011 their rearor lower ends, upon which are-formed or secured hinge members 36, pivoted together by" pint'les as 37.; the hinge member 36 of the foremost leaf being pivoted to the hearing bracket 5 which is secured to the inside of the rear rimof the cover section of the case, as by the bolt 38, as shown in Fig. 9 The indeX frame 6 is provided withthe hinge members 39, on its rear edge, which are likewise pivotally connected with the same bearing brackets 5, as by means of the pintles 37.

Suitable bearing posts, preferably in the forin of the pivoted rollers l0, are mounted upon the side walls of the cover section against which the rearmost bill holder 4: is

adapted to restand be guided upward and downward in the operation of the holders, when one or more of the same are rotated into upright position, as shown in Fig. 6; which operation of the bill holders upon the bearing of the foremost leaf is well known in the art of filing appliances. The adjoining faces of the bill holders are provided with suitable partition strips n, forming recesses in which are located the spring clips -12, behind which sales bills are adapted to be retained, in a manner also well known in this art.

The guide-tracks 43, are provided on the inner sides of the slide brackets .7, upon which tracks the side edges of the forward endof the index frame are adapted to slide and be sustained when the frame is carried rearward and downward into the base section of the case by a closing of the cover section thereon, as shown in Fig. 4; and these tracks are inclined upward at their forward ends in such a manner as .to guide the forward endv of the index frame "upward and over the forward rim oft-he base sec the rotation of the cover section into uprightv tion, when the frame is carried forward by position, as shown in Figs. and 6; it being understood that the operation of the 1 index frame thus described is automatically performed by the mere swinging of the cover section upward and downward upon the base section thereof; 7

When the cover section is closed downward upon the base section of the case, the

indexframe 6 will be carried down into the base sectionof the case by its pivotal connection-with the rear rim of the cover section and the sliding of its front end downward upon the tracks 43 of the slide brackthe superposed bill holders are carried forward as the rear rim of the cover section is shifted forward, as shown in Fig. 5, and

the forward end of the index frame is guided upward by sliding upon the inclined tracks .43 on the inner side of the slide brackets, until the index frame is carried upward over and upon the forward rim of the base section, which occurs when the cover section has been swung upward into vertical position; whereupon the bill holders can be rotated upward either singly or collectively, as shown in Fig. 6, in the manner well known, in the artof filing appliances.

When it is desired to close the cover sec tion downward upon the base section, the bill holders are swung forward upon their pivotal bearings into reclined position upon the index frame; after which, by swinging the free end of the cover-section forward and downward, the index frame with the bill. holders superposed thereon, are automatically carried rearward and downward into the cavity of the caseformed by the closed sections thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. In this relation of the parts, the sections being clamped and locked together, as described herein, it is evident that the bill holders are completely incased in' a fire proof closure, and may remain in situ upon the store counter or other ordinary place of use, without danger of damage or destruction by fire, and without removing the billholders from their case for such safety.

Iclaimr I 1. A filing case including two similar sections with guiding hinge connections automatically shifting one section when swinging upon the other section, and a series of holders operatively connected with the swinging section.

2. A filing caseincluding similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections automatically shifting the cover section when swinging upon the base section, and a series of holders operatively connected with the cover section.

8. A filing case including similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections between their rear ends automatically shifting the cover section when swinging upon the base section, and a series of holders operatively connected with the hinged end of the cover section.

at. A filing case including similar base and cover sections, with guiding hinge connections automatically shifting the cover section when swinging from a closed position upon the base section, with their rear ends in alinement to an upright position with the top of the cover section in alinement with the rear end of the base section, and a series of'holders operatively connected with the cover section.

5. A filing case including two sections, one of which is movable relative to the other from an upright to a horizontal position,

and vice versa, means joining said sections together whereby such movement of the one section automatically carries it into alinement with the wall of the other section,a.nd a series of holders operatively connected with said movable section.

6. A filing case including two sections, one of which is movable relative to the other from an upright to a horizontal position, and vice versa, means joining said sections together, whereby such movement of the one section automatically actuates it in a horizontal direction, and a series of holders operatively connected with said movable section.

7 A filing case including similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections between their rear ends for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, and means within the case for automatically clamping and locking the rear rims together as and when the case sections are closed.

8. A filing case including similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections between their rear ends for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, with means within the case for antomatically clamping and locking the rear rims together and means for clamping and locking the forward rims together when the case sections are closed.

9. A filing case including similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections between their rear ends for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, there being intermeshing tongues and grooves upon the side and forward rims and rabbets upon the rear rims of the sections.

10. A filing case including similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections between their rear ends for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, there being intermeshing tongues and grooves upon'the side and forward rims and rabbets upon the rear rims of the sections, and means for clamping and locking the rims together when the case sections are closed.

11. A filingcase including similar base and cover sections with. guiding hinge connections between their rear ends for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, there being corresponding intermeshing tongues and grooves upon the side and forward rims and rabbets upon the rear rims of the sections, and means for antomatically clamping and locking the rear rims together as and when the case sections are closed.

12. A filing case including similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections between their rear ends for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, there being corresponding 'intermeshing tongues and grooves upon the side and forward rims and rabbets upon the rear rims of the sections, with means for automatically clamping and locking the rear rims together and means for clamping and locking the forward. rims together when the case sections are closed.

13. A filing case including a bottom section, an upper section normally mounted in horizontal position on said bottom section, connections between said sections permitting the upper section to swing relative to the bottom section and operating to move the upper section longitudinally of the bottom section as it swings from one position to another, and interlocking means carried by said sections automatically engaging and positively clamping and locking each other together at one end when the upper section is moved into closed position.

14. A filing case including a bottom section having bottom, front, side and rear walls, an upper section normally arranged in horizontal position mounted on said bot tom section and having top, side, front, and rear walls, connections between said sections permitting the upper section to swing relative to the bottom section and operating to move the upper section longitudinally of the bottom section as it swings from one position to another, and interlocking means carried by the rear walls of said sections automatically engaging each other when the upper section is moved into the closed position.

15. A filing case including similar base and cover sections with, guiding hinge con'- nections for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, and a series of hinged holders mounted in the case and and cover sections with guiding hinge connections for swinging and automatically shifting the cover section upon the base section and a series of holders hinged together and having a single pivotal connection with the cover section.

17. A filmg case including similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge con-o nections for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, and a series of hinged holders mounted in the case, one holder of the series being pivoted to the rear end of the cover section.

18. A filing case including similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, and a series of hin ed holders and an. index frame mounted in the case, one end holder of the series and the index frame being pivoted to the rear end of the cover section of the case.

19. A filing case including a bottom section, an upper section mounted on and movable relative to said bottom section, a set of holders carried at their rear ends by the upper section, a frame for supporting the forward ends of the holders connected with the upper section and arranged to enter within the bottom section, and means for supporting and guiding the free end of said frame upwardly from within said bottom section over the forward rim thereof during movement of upper section from a horizontal to a vertical position.

v20. A filing case including a bottom section, an upper section mounted thereon, connections between said sections permitting the upper section to swing relative to the bottom section, a set of holders carried by the upper section, a frame connected to and movable with said upper sections, and means for counterbalancing the upper section, the said means including an element which operates as a support for the free end of said frame.

21., A filing case including a bottom section, an upper section mounted thereon, connections between said sections permittin the upper section to swing relative to the bottom section, a set of holders carried by the upper section, a frame connected to and movable with the upper section, and means for counterbalancing the upper section, the said means including an element having inclined guide walls operating to support and guide the free end of the frame in and out of the bottom section during movement of the upper section from one position to another.

-22. A filing case including a bottom sec 'tion having sides, an upper section mounted on said bottom section and movable from a horizontal to a vertical position, connections between said sections permitting swinging movements of the upper section and operating, during the swinging movement of the section, to simultaneously move it longitudinally of said bottom section, a frame pivotally connected to and movable with said upper section, and a support carried by the bottom section and arranged, to support the free end of said frame, the said support being provided with a cam operating to move the frame upwardly as the upper section swings from a horizontal to a vertical position.

-23. A filing appliance including a plurality of holders, and a case inclosing said holders having a'base section and a movable section mounted on the base section and 'con- .nected' therewith by. means permitting the .movable section to be moved into either upright or horizontal position, said means au- 'tomatically shifting it into alinement in each position with the rear of the base section, andsaid holders being operatively connected with the movable section.

2a. A filing appliance including 7 a plurality of holders, and a case inclosing'said I holders and having a base section with an open top and a movable section having an open front when in upright position, the movable sectlon being mounted on the base section and connected therewith by means permitting it to be moved into either upright or horizontal position on the base, said means automatically shifting it into alinement, in either position, with the rear wall of the case, and said holders being operatively connected with the movable section.

25. A filing case includingsimilar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, and a series of hinged holders and an index frame mounted in the case one end holder of the series and the index frame being pivoted to the cover section of the case, and a slide guide having f'5'o a pivotal connectionlat its forward end with the base section and a pendent connection at "its. rear end with the cover section, for supporting the forward end of the index frame and superposed-holders within the base section when the cover section is closed down upon the same and for guiding the index frame over the forward rim ofthe base section when the cover section is swung to and :upright thereon. .26 A filing case including similar base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections for swinging and shifting the cover section {upon the base section, a, series of hinged holders mounted in the case and having its hinged end pivoted to the cover section, and a frame having its rear end pivoted to the hinged end of the lower holder of the series, with means for supporting and guiding the free end of the frame upward and forward from within the base section over and upon the forward rim thereof.

27. A filing case including a bottom section, an upper section normally arranged in horizontal position on said bottom section, connections between said sections permitting the upper section to swing from a horizontal to avertical position and operating to move the upper section longitudinally of the bottom section as it swings from one position to another, means for counterbalancing said upper section, a plurality of holders pivotally connected with the upper section, and means associated with said counterbalancing means for supporting the free ends of said holders and guiding the same over the forward rim of the bottom section.

28. A filing case including a bottom section, an upper section normally arranged in horizontal position on said bottom section, connections between said sections permitting the upper section to swing from a horizontal to a vertical position, and operating to move the upper section longitudinally of the bottom section as it swings from one position to another, a plurality of holders having a pivotal connection with the upper section and a guiding support in the lower section, and means for counterbalancing said upper section, the guiding support and the holders carried thereby.

29. A filing case including base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, a plurality of holders pivotally connected with the cover secion and means for supporting and guiding the free ends of the holders over the forward rim of the base section including tracks h aving their forward ends fulcrumed in the base section and their rearward ends operatively connected with the cover section.

30. A filing case including base and cover sections with guiding hinge connections for swinging and shifting the cover section upon the base section, a plurality of holders pivotally connected with the cover section, and means for supporting and guiding the free ends of the holders over the forward rim of the base section including spring supported tracks having their forward ends fulcrumed in the base section.

HARRY J. HICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

